Washing-machine



(N0 Model.)

P. B. SHELDON.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 274,396, Patented Mar.20,1 883,

UNITED STATES ATENT heron,

PHILO B. SHELDON, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHlNG-MACHIN'E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,396, dated March 20, 1883,

Application filed January 18,1883. (No model) i T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that L'PHILO B. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State 'of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of clotheswashing machines in which the articles in process of washing are subjected to the action of pounders and are intermittently changed in position with relation to said pounders in order that the whole mass may be uniformly treated.

The objects of my invention are to provide a clothes pounding and shifting mechanism which may be applied to and used with any ordinary wash-tub, either stationary or movable, and to accomplish the forcible projection of water-currents through and among the clothes, in connection with the pounding op eration.

In the accomplishment of these objects my invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of devices, which will be hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved clothes pounding and shifting mechanism applied to an ordinary wash-tub, shown in diametric section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 0: so of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side, edge, and partly-sectional view of the upper portion of the mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of one of the pounders.

' having a downwardly-extending arm, (2', which supports a horizontal bar, E, through which are formed guide-passages for portions of the pounder-rods.

Between the top piece, A, and the depending arm d of the bracket D is arranged a large gear-wheel, F, fixed upon a shaft,f, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) which has its hearings in the top piece and saidvdepending arm, and projects through the latter to receive a crank,g, which is secured thereto in the usual manner. The gear-wheel F meshes with two other and smaller gear-wheels, H H, arranged on opposite sides thereof and pivoted to the top piece, A, near its lower edge. These gear-wheels H H carry crank-arms i i, which are respectively connected to the lower ends of the pitmen K K, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the tops of the'pounder-rods L L. The ponnderrods carry attheir lower ends the pounders M M, and, extending upward behind the top piece, A, are bent at right angles across its upper edge, and again bent downward to form the depending portions l l, which play through the guide-passages of the bar E. it is to the rightangled portions connecting the portions L and I that the upper ends of the pitmeu K K are pivoted.

The letterN indicatesthe circular clothes supporting and shifting platform, arranged to rotate under the pounders, and forming a false bottom for the tub in which it is placed. the center of the under side of the platform N projects a pivot-pin, n, which is to be inserted in a socket, a step formed to receive it at the center of the bottom of the tub, while upon the top of the platform is secured a boss, 0, having asoclretin its top to receive the angular lower end of a vertical shaft, P, which extends upward behind the top piece, A, and is supported by loop-beariu gs q q, projectingfrom said top piece.

From

From the shaft P pro ects a series of radial arms, 1), the outer ends of which play through a slot, a, formed in the top piece, A, and are vertical reciprocating motion,causin g the said pounders to come in pounding contact with the clothes which may be arranged upon the platform N.

When the mechanism is in operation the platform N has an intermittent rotary motion communicated to it by the action of the crown spur-teeth upon the arms p of the shaft P, these arms and spur-teeth being arranged in such relation to each other so that one of the teeth 1* will strike one of the arms 19 just after the pounders have been raised clear of the clothes and remain in contact with said arm only long enough to give the shaft P and platform N a partial rotation, so as to shift a fresh portion ofthe clothes directly under the pounders. When the striking tooth leaves the arm a succeeding arm will be brought into position to be struck; but a spur-tooth will not strike it until the pounders have desc'ended and been again raised.

In order to properly support the platform N under the action of the pounders, I arrange upon the bottom of the tub two rollers, s s, un-

der and in contact with those portions of the platform which support the clothes directly under the pounders.

The pounders M M have a special construction with a view to forcing currents of water through and among the clothes sim ultaneously with the pounding action. These pounders are hollow and preferably made of sheet metal, each having preferably the external configuration of the frustum of a pyramid having an oblong base, as shown in Fig. 4. They are open at the bottom and closed at top, except an opening from which depends a socket, t, in which fits the enlarged cylindrical foot m of the pounder-rod. The lower portion of each pounder is divided into compartments by 0b lique partitions or walls a, above which is a single continuous air-chamber, the lower edges of these walls being about flush with the lower edge of the inclosing-wall. Brace-rods or extend between the sockettand the ends of the pounder and cross the lower edges of the walls a a, which are secured to them and thus prevented from being displaced when the pounders are in operation. The .walls a u and the brace-rods strike the clothes and assist in the kneading treatment thereof. In one end of each pounder, near its top, is an aperture, 2, guarded by an inwardly-opening valve, Z, which opens to relieve the pounder of suction as it ascends and 'to admit a fresh supply of air. When the pounder descends and comes in contact with the water and clothes the valve Z closes, and the air within the pounder, being highlycompressed, drives the water from the lower edge of the pounder in, strong currents, which carry the dirt out of the articles being washed. I

I do not limit myself to any particular con figuration of the pounders, nor do I confine myself to any particular form of the supporting-frame or other-parts, but reserve to myself the right to vary the construction of my mechanism in any suitable manner, while not departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I also reserve the right to make subsequent application for the clothes-pounder and other parts of my invention herein shown and described but not claimed.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the gear-wheel F and gear-wheels H H, connected with the pounders by intermediate devices, of the platform N, shaft P, and devices for communicatin g an intermittent rotary motion to said shaft from said gear-wheel F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the gear-wheel F, having the spur-teeth r, and connected by intermediate devices with the clothes-pounders, of the vertical shaft P, and platform N, the said shaft being provided with the radial arms 19 19, arranged to be struck by said spur-teeth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILO B. SHELDON. 

